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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to polling places in a precinct. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 43.001, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 43.001. NUMBER OF [ONE] POLLING PLACES [PLACE] IN EACH |
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PRECINCT. (a) Except as provided by this section, each [Each] |
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election precinct established for an election shall be served by a |
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single polling place located within the boundary of the precinct. |
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(b) In a county with a population of more than 500,000, each |
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election precinct established for an election may be served by more |
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than one polling place if: |
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(1) each polling place is located within the boundary |
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of the precinct; and |
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(2) consideration is given to population density in |
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selecting the location of each polling place, so that each polling |
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place serves approximately the same number of voters. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 43.002(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) For a general or special election in which the use of |
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county election precincts is required, the county clerk shall |
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recommend the location of the polling place or places for each |
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county election precinct, except as provided by Subsection (b). |
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The commissioners court shall designate the recommended location as |
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a [the] polling place unless the court finds good cause to reject |
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the recommendation. In that case, the commissioners court shall |
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designate another location. |
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(b) If county election precincts are consolidated, the |
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commissioners court shall designate the location of the polling |
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place or places for the consolidated precinct. |
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SECTION 3. Section 43.003, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 43.003. DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: PRIMARY ELECTION. |
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The county chair of a political party holding a primary election |
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shall designate the location of the polling place or places for each |
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election precinct in the primary unless the precinct is one that is |
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consolidated. In that case, the county executive committee shall |
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designate the location or locations. |
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SECTION 4. Section 43.004(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The governing body of each political subdivision |
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authorized to hold elections, other than a county, shall designate |
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the location of the polling place or places for each of its election |
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precincts. |
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SECTION 5. Section 43.005, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 43.005. DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: CERTAIN SPECIAL |
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ELECTIONS. The authority establishing election precincts under |
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Section 42.062 shall designate the location of the polling place or |
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places for each precinct. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |